PMA Grads Thread :-)

[Dollydaydream2829]

Hey ladies,
We've finally made it to the other side and are journeying through the unknown territory of pregnancy! Here to share our stories, our worries and keep that all important PMA!
This is a thread for our PMA TTC Grads and for any women expecting their babies and feel like injecting a bit of positivity into their pregnancy journeys and the gang!
Feel free to join and introduce yourselves below :-)

I had my 16 week appointment last week and they just went through the tests they did at my 12 week appointment (bloods etc.) and did my blood pressure. Was lovely to hear heartbeat as well !

Hope everyone has had a nice weekend, what have you been up to?

Met up with inlaws yesterday, partway between them and us. Had pub lunch followed by afternoon in the park - didn't really know what I fancied on the menu and had to choose quickly as it was near the end of the lunch sitting, but enjoyed my veg lasagne when it came :) Today went to RNLI open day - DS loved sitting on the lifeboat and tractor multiple times and getting a tour of the lifeboat station, but it was a bit of a drama when it was time to leave. Hoping he doesn't expect the boat to be out every time we go down to the park and beach now, as we're down there a few times a week :)

Hi @baking! Your pub lunches always make me fancy a wee pub lunch lol and veg lasagne sounds yum!

I've had a lovely, if slightly crazy weekend spent with family who are all "home" to NI from England, Scotland and Dublin. We did a bbq for 18 yesterday which has become an annual thing and went really well. And we have had my cousin, her dh and 2dc (6+3) staying with us since Friday and it's been lovely. It's everyone's last day tomorrow ... :( I've been getting lots of tips and we've received a sterilizer, baby bath and crib which is fab!!

We said we would start thinking about painting nursery and getting bits and pieces together after this weekend so it looks like we'll spend our weeknights this week planning and making decisions!

I have my 25 week scan on Tuesday so hopefully that all goes ok. I'm looking forward to hearing the heartbeat 😍

Hope everyone is well :) xo

Sounds like a lovely weekend Moo :) Enjoy all your planning - remember how exciting that was first time round, but sorted with DS's stuff, so don't really have much to sort. Have made my list for what to pack for hospital, but won't be doing that till nearer 30 weeks. I asked about to see if anyone I know has a TENS machine I could borrow and one of the mams from playgroup does, so going to borrow that - hoping to stay at home as long as possible this time and couldn't use gas and air with sickness previously, so will be good to have another option. You can borrow them from community midwives in advance, but as expected they have a limited number, so not always possible - places like Boots and Tesco also do hire, but not much cheaper than actually buying one. Hope all goes well at your 25 week appointment this week :)

Doh! I said scan instead of appointment lol! My cousin also gave me a tens machine too and an exercise ball and some maternity pads and breast pads!

Sounds like you received lots of useful gifts at the weekend Moo :)

Sounds like you both had lovely weekends baking and moo. And yes, great gifts by the sounds of it! I'm defo gonna invest in a tens machine. A couple of my friends swore by it so it's worth a try!

I had another weekend of work but that's my last weekend on for a couple so looking forward to spending some quality time with DH soon!

I've stumbled across a couple of unwelcome second trimester symptoms over the past few days - namely heartburn, which I've never suffered with before, and right sided hip pain occasionally. I'm hoping that's just from over exertion at the gym and/or work but gonna keep an eye on it! Anyone else struggling with anything just now? Hopefully not!

Good luck with your appt tomorrow moo

Hey girls Iv been nightshift all weekend pure rubbish!!!

What kind of things u doing at the gym @Dollydaydream2829 Iv just signed up for some pregnancy yoga xxx

Bet you're looking forward to your weekends off Dolly! Re symptoms, nothing really at the mo, but who knows what's round the corner, so shouldn't be too complacent! I was v lucky with DS and never once got heartburn. Really hope I'm lucky enough to avoid it this time round too, as really enjoy spicy food and know that's one to be avoided - would not be happy! Hope your hip pain doesn't come to anything.

Enjoy your pregnancy yoga Amanda. I've only made it to one class of mine so far with DH working so many Sundays the last couple of months and now the lady has gone and moved her classes 45 mins drive away, so don't think I'll be trekking there at £17 a class to start with. Just keeping up with walking about 5 miles a day, but may look at going swimming for a bit of relaxation.

I used to be a bit of a gym bunny Amanda - 4 days a week weights and 1 or 2 days cardio. During the first trimester, felt so bad with sickness etc, I couldn't keep it up so only went a couple times a week. Which I still do however have massively toned down the weights at this stage.
I feel it helps keep my body and mind healthy but am sometimes I bit wary about pains I get - whether it's pregnancy related or maybe my body's way of telling me to tji take it a bit easier.

I'm still going to the yoga - more than halfway through my 8 week block and thoroughly enjoying it. If I was in your position though baking I'd probably be the same as you! My classes work out a tenner a time but it's literally round the corner and although on a Saturday morning, she's quite flexible when it comes to missing a class. Glad you're relatively symptom free too! Long may it last!

@Dollydaydream2829 me too!!! Was always at the gym but totally didnt go in 1st trim. Maybe getting more energy now so been doing 4/5mile walks when poss. Might go back to gym I'm just a paranoid android!!!

Thanks @bakingmad83 the women does a 6 week block for £48 only 10 mins from me so not too bad. Never done yoga before right enough ha ha so don't really know what to expect.

Iv had weird feelings in my stomach last few days!! Dunno what it is lol naking me worry as usual!!!!

Maybe the start of little flutters from baby Amanda? I've never noticed anything but kicks later on with either pregnancy, but know some women get the more subtle movements in early 2nd trimester :)

@bakingmad83 not sure but the nausea has came back with avengance 😭😭😭😭

Oh no Amanda! Hopefully be like mine and only rear its head for a few days, fingers crossed.

So scan yesterday went well. Measuring 13+2 at scan so due date is 4th Feb.

We told both sets of parents yesterday an they were so shocked but thrilled! Such a relief to finally share the news this is what we've wanted for well over a year.

😍😍😍

DH parents want to buy our pram and travel system so win win! 😝

aw fab scan pic @Anna2006 and you must be so relieved to have finally told people. this is such an exciting time 😁 she is adorable. have you started thinking of names yet?

how are you all? iv been a bit MIA online/social media lately. felt like between all the apps i check i was never off my phone so took a wee break!

i'm off on a wee holiday from work today as the carpet was fitted in the nursery earlier. i'm desperate to get in and hoover etc but iv been warned not too for 2 days! ill content myself with ironing the new curtains and sorting out a blind etc.

today marks 20wks for me. i'm going to turn my countdown into "weeks to go" instead of "weeks gone" now. buzzing!

xx

Awww fab scan @Anna2006 such an amazing feeling! Loved telling people such a buzz!!! Ha ha!!

My dad wants to buy the pram & dp nursery stuff so feeling very lucky!

Oh hello @BellaMoon 20 weeks!! When is ur scan??? Onlly 4 weeks until mines can't wait! I just want to start to get organised now that would be good! 😂

you keeping well @AmandaP86x ?

scan is next tuesday which i'm super excited about. we are getting a more detailed scan by a consultant due to facial birth defects in DH side of the family. nothing has shown with the 3 scans iv already had so i'm confident all will be well but it does lurk in the back of my mind.

i cannot believe it's August! time sure is flying by ladies xx

Lovely scan pic Anna and glad all is well :)

Not long till your next scan then Bella :) Quite like the idea of the countdown, but know that for me with the window of 37 to 42 weeks for arrival, an early or late arrival would throw me!

How's your hip pain Dolly? Woke with a sore left hip this morn, thought I'd maybe been overdoing the walking, as some days more like 6 or 7 miles, but once I got moving was fine, maybe just the way I'd been lying. Have been trying to lie on my left side - don't think it's really a big deal if you lie on your right, more to avoid lying on back - so maybe just because I'm not so used to that.

Got my whooping cough jab on Friday. Last time round I was able to get that and flu jab at the same time, but with DD having a due date earlier in year didn't want to wait till stocks of flu jab arrive, as whooping cough jab more effective if given before 32 weeks.

Lovely scan pic Anna - so exciting that parents know now and you can begin to tell folk! I found my pregnancy really started speeding up once everyone found out!

bella - you're so organised with the nursery business! Putting me to shame! I've definitely started nesting - I always like to keep a tidy house but it's verging on a bit neurotic at times now! I'm sure it'll just be a phase because when the little one comes, I'll have anything but time to be neurotic about keeping a spotless home, so here's hoping for my mental state, it's a phase!

Your scans will both be soon in coming round bella and amanda

Sorry to hear about the hip pain baking - it's definitely worse for me when I've sat/lay down for a while. Usually when I'm up and on the go, it's not there or I don't notice it. I wouldn't say it's a daily occurrence but it's probably verging on it. Something I'm gonna keep a note of and bring it up with my midwife when I see her.
You've also just reminded me to get booked in for my whooping cough jab! Thank you!

Bit paranoid been having these weird kind of niggles up and around my belly button - I eventually took my bar out didn't know if it was maybe that. Anyway it's kind of settle but I am so hyper sensitive to any wee thing 😭🙈🙈🙈

Thanks Dolly, no hip pain on waking this morning, so probably nothing here :) Hopefully yours will settle soon.

A few weeks ago I decided I desperately needed to wash down all the paintwork in the house - not even sure when I last did that or when will be done again! You definitely have to drop your standards when you've little ones - if you're all clean, dressed and fed then it's a good day. Remember it feeling a major achievement if I actually did something like wash the dishes before DH got home! Obviously gets easier though :)

Sorry Amanda, didn't mean to ignore your post earlier - was still half asleep :) Think it's hard not to worry about little niggles during pregnancy, hopefully will be nothing and taking the bar out will help. Wish I could say all the worry disappears when they're here, but unfortunately it doesn't!

@Amanda remind me how far along you are? As baking said it could be the start of feeling movement :) Sorry to hear your nausea is back - hope it passes soon. Not nice :(

You ladies are putting me to shame w5irh the gym sessions and long walks! My phone has a step counter and my target is 6000 a day which is nowhere near 5 miles I don't think!! I have great intentions of going on long walks when baby is here ... we'll see!

@Anna fan scan pic so pleased for you! Great to be able to finally tell people! :) hope you are well?

@Bella hey there! As dolly said you are definitely putting me to shame on the nursery we really need to start getting things sorted! Also 20 weeks already?! U must be so excited for your scan!

@Dolly That's funny about your nesting - can you come round to mine and nest here for me!? Although I did clean our windows last week for the first time since we moved in 2 years ago ... How are we nearly in 3rd trimester already!? I'm starting daisy birthing which includes pregnancy yoga at start of Sept - really looking forward to it! :) Hope your symptoms have eased and no new ones appeared!? Re heartburn the m/w suggested gaviscon which I hadn't thought of! Might be worth a try if yours has persisted. I'm waiting on the swollen feet everyone is telling me about?

My 25 week app went well on Tue - got Mat b1 (so need to make a decision re mat leave and negotiate with work ...), booked in for whooping jab in 2 weeks and booked antenatal classes so it was very productive! Also did blood pressure, checked urine, checked positioning (head up under my right boob and feet in the middle of my belly - curled up like a cat she said lol), measured my bump (1st time - measuring on the 50th centile) and listened to heartbeat 😍 it was 170 to start with so she listened in for longer than normal until it came down - i reckon it was cause she had been poking baby when checking position and measuring bump! Whose heart rate wouldn't increase when they are getting poked and proded from all angles! I am now on a schedule of 2 weekly appointments until baby arrives ... eeek!!!